It's Not About YOU, It's About Your CLIENTS
Last weekend I got an odd text message from a fellow agent who works in another of our Brokerage's offices. I didn't know this person at all. But they had called on Cindy Jones' listing in my own neighborhood to see if Cindy could show it. Seems that Andy the Agent was on vacation and had no one to cover his business.
Cindy wasn't inclined to drive all the way up to Bristow from Woodbridge unless she had to, and I don't blame her. So she suggested that Agent Andy call me and ask me to do it and offer me a showing fee. Well, he definitely asked me to show the home, but left out the part about paying me to do it. Because it was around the block from my own home, and it was Cindy's listings, I did it. It ended up being fun. You don't have to give a hoot what those buyers think of you or your opinion. They are someone else's problem clients.
This weekend, Agent Andy asked again. Poor Andy is STILL out of town and his poor buyers need to see a house today. Agent Andy didn't have the foresight the fifteen year old boy that mows my lawn has. Have a back up plan. Have coverage when you aren't available. It's not about YOU. It's about the CLIENT. If the client isn't getting their needs met, they aren't going to be sticking with you very long.
Yes, my lawn boy is going to summer camp. He informed me the dates he'd be gone and who'd be covering his lawns while he was gone. So responsible of him. And he's just in charge of mowing my lawn, not helping me make a life changing decision. No wonder I like that kid.
So what you have to split a commission with a co-worker? So what you may work out a deal where someone watches your business at no charge, but you have to repay the favor? Don't be a cheap skate and think only about YOU. Your clients are going to need help and just because you are on a cruise ship or somewhere exotic playing golf, doesn't make their needs less relevant.
